| ingestion | the act of eating |
| digestion | the process of breaking food down into molecules small enough to absorb |
| absorption | uptake of nutrients by body cells |
| elimination | the passage of undigested material out of the digestive compartment |
| intracellular digestion | food particles are engulfed by endocytosis and digested within food vacuoles |
| extracellular digestion | breakdown of food particles outside of cells |
| mammalian acessory glands | salivary glands, pancreas, liver, gallbladder |
| peristalsis | rhythmic contractions of smooth muscles in the wall of the canal |
| oral cavity | food is lubricated and digestion begins |
| stomach | stores food and secretes gastric juice |
| small intestine | longest section of the alimentary canal, major organ of digestion and absorption |
| duodenum | where acid chyme from the stomach mixes with digestive juices |
| large intestine | recover water that has entered the alimentary canal |